Total Michigan

Hosted by Cliff Duvernois

Business Entrepreneurship Society Culture Education

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Episodes

226

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

Michigan is full of people building, serving, and showing up — right where they are. Total Michigan shares real stories of dreamers and doers whose heart and grit are shaping their communities across the state and beyond. These are honest conversations about purpose, perseverance, and what it means to care about where you live. From the Upper Peninsula to the Lower, these stories remind us that Michigan’s future is being built every day by real people. Watch, listen, and connect at https://totalmichigan.com

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60 recent

August 7, 202635 min

Car Racing Chose Me: Will Sahutske on Speed, Family, and Never Giving Up

What does it feel like when everything slows down at 120 miles per hour and you can see people's hands waving from the grandstands? Will Sahutske, owner of WD Racing, is a pro late model driver competing in the CRA Turn One Pro Series across the eastern United States. His racing story didn't start with him; it started three generations ago with a grandfather who engineered IndyCars and a father who put him in a go-kart at three. Today Will and his dad spend 50 hours a week chasing a tenth of a second, and a four-year-old named Amelia is waiting in the wings.In this episode, you'll learn:What goes through a driver's mind during a 100-lap race at over 100 mphHow a father-son team has traveled to racetracks together for 33 yearsWhy Will seeks partners with aligned values instead of chasing sponsorship checksWhat it's like watching the next generation climb into a race car for the first timeFollow WD Racing: @wdracingteam on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTubePartnership inquiries: wdracing@yahoo.comSubscribe to our Email Newsletter: https://totalmichigan.com/join/Find us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/totalmichiganWatch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@totalmichigan

July 31, 202633 min

🙏🏼 One Michigan Woman's Fight for Kids With Cancer

Twenty-three years ago, a teenager asked Maggie Varney a question nobody could answer: What do you do when you're a kid, and you need a wig? That question became Maggie's Wigs 4 Kids, a Michigan nonprofit that has now helped over 6,000 children fighting cancer, completely free of charge. This episode goes beyond hair loss into what it really means for a child to feel like themselves again, and the community in St. Clair Shores that made it possible. Listen in for a story of heart and grit, and find out how you can support Maggie's mission.In this episode, we cover:The real story behind Maggie's Wigs 4 Kids, and the simple question that started it allWhy losing your hair to cancer costs a child far more than appearance, and what it does to a kid's sense of identityHow one Michigan woman built a completely free program that's helped over 6,000 kids in 23 yearsThe story of the community, churches, schools, and civic groups that rallied around her before anyone knew her nameHow to get involved, donate, or attend the August 12th gala supporting Wigs 4 KidsLinks: Maggie's Kids for Wigs Website: https://www.wigs4kids.orgSubscribe to our Email Newsletter: https://totalmichigan.com/join/Find us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/totalmichiganWatch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@totalmichigan

June 12, 202629 min

The Man Bringing the Outdoors to 8 Mile in Detroit

Detroit's urban neighborhoods are concrete, heat, and noise — with nature feeling like something that belongs to somebody else. Josh McCreedy, owner and founder of TrailSense LLC, is changing that, one trail at a time. Just off 8 Mile Road, he's transforming Dorais Park into a world-class outdoor experience for the families and kids who call this neighborhood home. Because no matter who you are or where you live, you deserve a trail to call your own.Josh is also a member of the Great Lakes Business Network, which you can learn more about by going here: https://glbusinessnetwork.com/Links:https://www.facebook.com/trailsensemiSubscribe to our Email Newsletter: https://totalmichigan.com/join/Find us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/totalmichiganWatch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@totalmichiganMentioned in this episode:NWF AdVisit Our Sponsor: The National Wildlife Federation Great Lakes Chapter is working hard to protect what Michiganders love and that is our great outdoors. Learn more about threats facing all Michiganders and what the NWF is fighting for at https://nwf.org/greatlakes

May 22, 202633 min

The Soul of a Yooper Pasty

In Sault Ste. Marie, a pasty is more than food. It’s memory. It’s family. It’s the Upper Peninsula wrapped in dough and carried through generations.This week on Total Michigan, Cliff sits down with Heidi and Jeff Ritter, founders of the Yooper Pasty Company, to explore how a small food trailer turned into one of the most beloved gathering places in the Soo. But beneath the story of fresh crusts, rutabaga debates, and sold-out lunch rushes is something deeper: a couple trying to preserve a feeling most people are afraid of losing.This episode explores:Why the pasty means so much to Yooper cultureThe journey from Coast Guard life to entrepreneurshipHow food preserves memory and communityThe deep connection between Michigan history and traditionWhy some places feel like home the second you walk inIf you’ve ever tasted something that instantly transported you back to childhood, this episode will stay with you.Links:951 E Portage AveSault Ste. Marie, MI 49783Subscribe to our Email Newsletter: https://totalmichigan.com/join/Find us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/totalmichiganWatch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@totalmichiganMentioned in this episode:NWF AdVisit Our Sponsor: The National Wildlife Federation Great Lakes Chapter is working hard to protect what Michiganders love and that is our great outdoors. Learn more about threats facing all Michiganders and what the NWF is fighting for at https://nwf.org/greatlakes

May 8, 202629 min

🙏🏼 A Special Mother's Day Tribute

Many people reached out to me when I published my last solo episode, back in early January. In that episode, I shared the struggles I was having as a caregiver, along with my mom's struggles. In this episode, I share the second chapter in that story: detailing what happened after that and some of the lessons I have learned from.I thank all of you who reached out and offered support after that episode aired.Thank you again, all of you, who listen every week.Mentioned in this episode:NWF AdVisit Our Sponsor: The National Wildlife Federation Great Lakes Chapter is working hard to protect what Michiganders love and that is our great outdoors. Learn more about threats facing all Michiganders and what the NWF is fighting for at https://nwf.org/greatlakes

May 1, 202628 min

🙏🏼 Neighbors Enabling Success Together: Saginaw's Heart Behind The NEST

When someone escapes homelessness, addiction, or domestic violence, they finally get the keys to a safe place of their own. They walk in and find an empty room. A remarkable organization called the NEST in Saginaw steps in to make sure no family starts over with nothing, providing everything from beds and couches to potato peelers and nightlights. Director Erin Johnson and Duane Siler pull back the curtain on what it really takes to serve over 65 agencies and thousands of families rebuilding their lives. If you believe that communities should take care of their own, this episode will leave you inspired and ready to get involved.Links:NEST Website: https://saginawpartnershipcenter.orgSubscribe to our Email Newsletter: https://totalmichigan.com/join/Find us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/totalmichiganWatch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@totalmichiganMentioned in this episode:NWF AdVisit Our Sponsor: The National Wildlife Federation Great Lakes Chapter is working hard to protect what Michiganders love and that is our great outdoors. Learn more about threats facing all Michiganders and what the NWF is fighting for at https://nwf.org/greatlakes

April 24, 202635 min

Michigan's Greatest Treasure: Who's Protecting It?

Michigan's lakes, forests, and wildlife are more than just a backdrop — they're a $11 billion economic engine and a way of life worth fighting for. Marc Smith, Director of Conservation Partnerships with the National Wildlife Federation, has spent nearly 30 years on the front lines of that fight. From invasive carp threatening our fisheries to an aging pipeline beneath the Straits of Mackinac, the threats are real and closer than you think. Tune in to discover what's being done, what's at stake, and how you can make a difference.Links:Website: https://www.nwf.org/Great-LakesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/NWFGreatLakesSubscribe to our Email Newsletter: https://totalmichigan.com/join/Find us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/totalmichiganWatch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@totalmichigan

April 17, 202632 min

Behind the Brass: Preserving Michigan's Firefighting Legacy

Some stories are too important to leave to chance. Inside the Michigan Firehouse Museum in Ypsilanti, centuries of firefighting history have been carefully preserved — the trucks, the gear, and the remarkable stories of those who risked everything to protect us.Director and Curator Dave Egeler opens the doors to a collection that spans colonial times to modern day, revealing how passion, family legacy, and an unshakeable sense of duty can transform a single firehouse into something truly extraordinary.Because behind every polished engine and every worn leather helmet is a human story — of sacrifice, of service, and of communities that owe more to their firefighters than they may ever know.Links:Michigan Firehouse Museum: Click hereSubscribe to our Email Newsletter: https://totalmichigan.com/join/Find us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/totalmichiganWatch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@totalmichiganMentioned in this episode:NWF AdVisit Our Sponsor: The National Wildlife Federation Great Lakes Chapter is working hard to protect what Michiganders love and that is our great outdoors. Learn more about threats facing all Michiganders and what the NWF is fighting for at https://nwf.org/greatlakes

April 10, 202631 min

🙏🏼 The House That Became a Community: Homes Giving Hope

A simple house in Rockford, Michigan became the beginning of something much bigger. Homes Giving Hope is creating a place where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities can experience independence, friendship, and community—together. What started with faith and a willingness to act is now growing into a network of homes where residents support one another and build lives of dignity and belonging. Sara Boven shares the story behind the mission, the challenges along the way, and the community that continues to grow.Links:Homes Giving Hope Website: https://homesgivinghope.orgSubscribe to our Email Newsletter: https://totalmichigan.com/join/Find us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/totalmichiganWatch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@totalmichiganMentioned in this episode:NWF AdVisit Our Sponsor: The National Wildlife Federation Great Lakes Chapter is working hard to protect what Michiganders love and that is our great outdoors. Learn more about threats facing all Michiganders and what the NWF is fighting for at https://nwf.org/greatlakes

January 9, 202632 min

🙏🏼 When Calling Takes Flight: SMAT Aviation

Some careers are chosen for opportunity. Others for success. But some paths are shaped by a calling — one that places purpose above paycheck and service above self. In this episode of Total Michigan, we travel to Ionia to explore what happens when people say yes to a call greater than themselves.Cliff DuVernois sits down with Terry Yoder, President of SMAT Aviation, a school dedicated to preparing missionary pilots and mechanics to serve in the most remote places on earth. Together, they talk about calling, preparation, and the unseen support that makes mission work possible when roads disappear and help is days away.This is a story about obedience, discipline, and faith in action — and how a small community in Michigan is helping carry good news around the globe.Links:SMAT Aviation Website: https://smat.eduSubscribe to our Email Newsletter: https://totalmichigan.com/join/Find us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/totalmichiganWatch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@totalmichiganMentioned in this episode:NWF AdVisit Our Sponsor: The National Wildlife Federation Great Lakes Chapter is working hard to protect what Michiganders love and that is our great outdoors. Learn more about threats facing all Michiganders and what the NWF is fighting for at https://nwf.org/greatlakes